Morpho-anatomy and Muscle Synergies of the Cervical Spine During Head Orienting Movements in the Monkey

Abstract

In a monoarticular movement [9] it is possible according to Wright’s criteria [10], to ascribe from geometric and kinematic characteristics, a function to each one of the muscles participating in a given motor task. However, head orienting movement is usually the result of complex movements across a multijoint system controlled by more than fifteen pairs of muscles. Study of the action of these muscles requires an extensive analysis of the osteo-articular and muscle-ligament systems of the cervical cephalic segment. Such an analysis was made in cats [6, 7], monkeys [5] and humans [2]. In the same line a recent work WSLS focused on a comparative study for several species as guinea pig, lizard, frog, chicken, rabbit, cat, monkey and human [8].